New member from Western Wisconsin

[Bill Wilcox]

Hi all new member here. My name is Bill Wilcox and am from Hudson, Wisconsin. I just recieved a old but very well taken care of Craftsman 12"X36" lathe with 13 turning chisels. grinding machine and duplicator system. Currently I am re-configuring my garage to accommodate this new found wealth of tools and machines.
I have been for a long time a woodworker and have recently been doing custom straight razor scales for people who are into shaving with straight razors. My lathe plans are to get some time on the lathe to turn shaving brushes, soap mugs and Christmas ornaments.
I am looking for clubs or turning groups in the Twin Cities( Minneapolis/St. Paul) to join. Also am looking to find if there are any vo-tech schools that offer turning classes in the evenings and weekends.
I have for many, many years admired people who turn wood and I am excited to pick this new hobby up.
Bill

[Steve Schlumpf]

Bill - Welcome to the Creek! You're going to love turning!

Been through Hudson many times as our oldest son and family live in St. Paul!

This is a great place to learn - so be sure to ask lots of questions!

[Robert McGowen]

Welcome! I happened to have ordered some soap and 4 badger hair shaving brush knots from The Golden Nib last night. The order had already been shipped this morning, so I hope that their products are as good as the customer service! (No affiliation to company.) Good luck with your new hobby!

[Bernie Weishapl]

Welcome Bill to SMC. You are going to love turning. Post pictures because we love Pic's.

[alex carey]

Welcome, definitely try and join a club.

http://www.woodturner.org/community/chapters/LocalChapters.asp

[Jeff Nicol]

Bill, I am located in Eau Claire and I have some of my work in a gallery in downtown Hudson! My cousin owns the gallery and she just moved there from Hammond. It is located in the old post office building and is called "STONE SOUP GALLERY". If you are ever in Eau Claire look me up and I can help you with anything you might need from wood too tools, or a cup of coffee and good conversation!

Welcome to the creek from another cheesehead!

Jeff

[charlie knighton]

welcome/ you should explore your area, it has a lot of national interest places in your area

[David E Keller]

Welcome from another relative newbie. This site is fantastic because of the people who post here. Never been exposed to a more helpful group of folks. I'm starting to believe that turners are the nicest people on earth. Ask questions, post photos, and enjoy turning

[gary Zimmel]

Welcome to the Creek Bill.

I'm quite new to this also, but this forum is a wealth of knowledge.
Enjoy the ride...

[Bill Bolen]

Welcome Bill...always room for one more...Bill...

[Bill Wilcox]

Thanks all !!! nice to be welcomed and nice to see people who are willing to help a newbie turner. To be honest I was really inspired into turning from another forum and saw some of Sacha's turning he does and was blown over by the things that can be produced on a lathe. I am just finishing up hooking my machines up in the garage and will soon be doing some turning. I have been reading my A** off on this subject and have really gotten the bug bad.
Like I said in my first post, I have been making wooden straight razor scales for people on a shaving site and have neen making wooden straigThey have gone all over the world and I still have a dozen to get out next week.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and be safe.
Bill

[ROY DICK]

Bill,
As others have said "Welome to the Creek".
I would take Jeff Nicole up on his offer.Please keep us on posted on your adventure in the world of turning.

Roy

[Greg Just]

Welcome Bill:

There is a small school in Hudson called the Wild Earth School

http://www.aboutwildearth.com/

It is run by George Vondriska. I took my first bowl turing class there about 4 years ago.

Greg

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Bill,

Welcome to the Creek and to the Vortex!


Let me tell you and David Keller just how generous Creeker turners are. It was 4 years ago about this time IIRC. The turners were having an Itty Bitttly contest. What a happy-go-lucky fun time they were having. I, not a turner, started teasing them because of their friendly frolicking temperment. Well, it was a mistake on my part. The teasing between me and the turners here went on until just before the next SuperBowl. They took up a collection and sent me a Jet VS Mini lathe, tools, wood. I was trying to finish my new shop and making good headway at the time. Well some 18 months later, the nearly $700 worth of lighting was still sitting on the floor...the walls and ceiling unpainted......I had the lathe mounted on the infamous "diving board" which was a 2/12 sitting on two halves of a Little Giant Ladder system each setup n the A-frame mode. I had spent over $3,000 out of my own pocket for accessories. Those sneaky generous rascals had gotten even and ahead!:eek::rolleyes: I haven't found anything that gives me as much satisfaction. I now have replaced the Jet Mini with a PM3520B. I passed the lathe on to another new turner.

Creeker turners.....turners in general........The most generous of all the woodworkers I have met!

Again....Welcome to the Creek Bill.

PS...I still haven't finished my shop...but I have wood to turn!

[Dan Forman]

A big SMC welcome from a former Cheesehead (Oshkosh). Sounds like you are off to a good start.

Dan